Signaling apparatus



G. F. GRAY.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

I APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1919. 1,346,540. v Patented July 13,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

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e. F. GRAY. SIGNALING APPARATUS.

1,346,540. APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, I9I9- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- G. F. GRAY. SIGNALING APPARATUS.- APPLICATION FILED MAY 20. 1919.

Patsnted July 13, 1920.

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06021222022 flaws/01 11160 P0 wer zre omew GEORGE FRANCIS GRAY, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYIQFANIA.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920..

Application filed May 20, 1919. Serial No. 298,510.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FRANCIS GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric signaling and is-directed to the provision of a device particularly intended for use with radiotelegraph sets whereby a visual indication is provided in the form of an electric lamp,

acting in conjunction with a tele raphsending key, which when the device 1s connected to the set, serves simultaneously the purpose of notifying either the pilot or ob server as in aeroplane'practicewhere several keys are sometimes connected to the same set, when the other is sending signals and what those signals are, so that he will not use his key and interrupt; of giving an indication by the brilliancy of the lamp filament as to the voltage being delivered by the generator of the set; and of assisting the operator in properly sending code by providing him with a visual indication of the spacin of dots and dashes.

ilther and further advantages will appear as the nature of the invention isbetter understood from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views, of which:

Figure 1 represents a plan view of a sending key combined with an electric lamp in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2-, a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1'

Fig. a bottom view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4, a perspective view of the shield with which the electric lamp is-provided;

Fig. 5, a perspective View ofa portion of the sending key base, showing means for securing the lamp shield thereto and also part of the lamp socket with the lamp removed;

Fig. 6, a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3, showing the relative positions of the electric lamp parts within the sending key base;

Fig. 7,-a plan view of the lamp socket assembly removed from the sending key base;

Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, a perspective .view of the lamp socket assembly with the lamp and conductor terminals removed;

Fig. 10, a perspective view of the inner Fig. 8, a section taken on line 88 of" i base of the lamp socket, showing the contact plungers in place;

Fig. 11-, a perspective view of one of the electric lamp conductor terminals;

F 1g. 12, a perspective view of one of the plunger assemblies removed from the inner base of the lamp socket, and

Fig. 13, a schematic wiring diagram of an aeroplane radio transmitting set, illustrating the manner in which the present invention may be applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a telegraph-sending key combined with an electric lamp mounted on the same base,

means being provided on the instrument base whereby the sending key and lamp are connected in parallel. Sending key 1, which in itself forms no part of the present invention, ismounted on base 2, formed of some insulating material, preferably bakelite. An incandescent lamp 3 is mounted in a socket 4 which projects through a raised portion 5 formed on base2 nearthe binding post end thereof.- An insulating base 6,

which is molded about thelower edge of socket. 4, Fig. 8, serves in conjunction with screws 7, to hold socket 4t in place as shown in Fig. 2. g

Lamp socket 4: is also provided with an inner base 8 of insulating material, inywhish are mounted contact-plunger assemblies 9 and 10, adapted to make electrical connection with the contacts .of lamp 3 when the latter is in place. Base 6 is provided with radial grooves 11 and 12,.and socket 4 with corresponding slots 13 and 14, adapted to receive conductor terminals 15 and 16, respectively, as shown in Fig. '7, saidterminals being secured to base 6 by small bolts, or other suitable means. The lower horizontal projecting portion of each of the conductor-terminals 15 and 16, is soldered to the lower end of the corresponding plunger assembly located in inner base 8, those electrically connecting theterminals with lamp 8, and also serving to retain said base and the plunger assemblies in place.

Base 2 is provided with roov'es 17 and 18 in theunder side thereoig through which conductors 19 and 20 run, respectively.

These conductors serve to connect contact "screws 21 and 22 with binding-posts 23 and other parts of the set. In order, therefore,

' to connect lamp 3 in parallel with the contacts of sending key I, conductors 19 and 20 are soldered or otherwise connected to terminals l5 and 16, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6.

It will thus be seen that when this device is connected to a telegraph set, such for instance as that shown in Fig. 13 and the sending key is open, the current from the generator of the' 'set, or other source, will flow through the electric lamp and cause the same. to burn. When the sending key is closed, however, due to the low resistance of the sending key parts and the relatively greater resistance of the lamp filament the brilliancy of the filament will be reduced with the closing of .the key. Where several devices of this type are used on the same set, as in aeroplane practice, where it is not unusual to use more than one key, and the several devices are connected to the set in multiple, see Fig. 13, the closing of any one of the sending keys will cause the filaments of all the lamps to be dimmed simultaneously. By means of this arrangement, the pilot or observer may use the set without danger of breaking in at the time when the other is using it.

It is particularly desirable in aeroplane practice during wartimes that signals being transmitted by wireless shall not be detected by the enemy, and also that the visual indicating means shall be protected from dam age. Lamp 3 therefore is provided with a shield 25 having a restricted opening 26 in the side thereof toward the operator, the shieldbeing adapted to be held in place by means of pins 27 and 28, corresponding bayonet slots 29 and 30, and springs 31 and 32. Opening 26 being relatively small and facing toward the operator, effectively restricts observation of the signals being sent, to the operator or someone in close proximity to him.

While details of construction have been described more or less precisely, it is not intended that the scope of this invention be limited thereto, as changes in form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

The combination of a telegraph-sending key, a base on which said key is mounted, said base being provided with a circular raised portion, an electric lamp mounted in said raised portion, a shield for said lamp having a restricted opening therein for observing said lamp, pins projecting horizontally from said raised portion, corresponding bayonet slots in the lower edge of said shield adapted to engage with said pins, springs in said base adapted to exert an upward pressure on the lower edge of said shield when the same is in place, electrical conductors. connecting said lamp in parallel with the c0ntacts of said sending-key, and binding-posts on said base to which said conductors are connected from said lamp.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

GEORGE FRANCIS GRAY. 

